New guidance seeks to end use of ‘race preferences, stereotypes’ in school admissions
Though there has been talk of President Donald Trump abolishing the U.S. Department of Education through an executive order, for now, he’s chosen to act through existing means to refashion the department.
On Tuesday, the department notified schools that they have 14 days to end all admissions, scholarship, discipline and employment practices that factor in race “preferences and stereotypes.” Schools that do not comply risk federal investigation and the loss of federal funding.
“For decades, schools have been operating on the pretext that selecting students for ‘diversity’ or similar euphemisms is not selecting them based on race,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. “No longer. Students should be assessed according to merit, accomplishment, and character – not prejudged by the color of their skin.”
The administration cited the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court case Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard as precedent for its action, saying the case ended racial preferences in school admissions and clarified that schools cannot legally factor race into the treatment of students or faculty.
“By allowing this principle to guide vigorous enforcement efforts, the Trump Education Department will ensure that America’s educational institutions will again embrace merit, equality of opportunity, and academic and professional excellence,” according to a news release from the department.
The department has been busy at work trying to undo many of the cultural education initiatives the Biden administration put into place. Since Jan. 20, the department’s Office for Civil Rights rescinded the Biden-era book ban guidance and announced it’s terminating its “book ban coordinator” position. The department has cancelled close to $1 billion in contracts and grants to Equity Assistance Centers, Regional Educational Laboratories and teacher preparation programs including training on critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion. It has awarded new grant funding to charter schools. It has launched investigations into antisemitism on several college campuses; some schools with all-gender or gender-neutral bathrooms; several schools for “Title IX violations”; as well as applied pressure to national college and high school athletic associations to “restore to female athletes the records, titles, awards and recognitions misappropriated by biological males competing in female categories.”
Tuesday’s action comes through a Dear Colleague Letter, a document the department uses to issue policy guidance. Dear Colleague Letters have been instrumental in shaping the department and were among the many recommended reforms in a recent report from the National Association of Scholars.
